What are retreats?

Campus Ministry retreats offer an excellent opportunity to get away from the hectic pace of life at Villanova University. The Retreat Program provides the setting to focus on different aspects of your life and encourages you to discover more about yourself and your deepest values through small and large group discussions, talks given by student leaders, meditation, games, fellowship, and prayer.

Why go on retreat?

• To relax and have fun
• To meet new people
• To share and grow in your spirituality
• To strengthen your relationships
• To explore and reflect on your life decisions
• To come to know yourself better
• To encounter God

Who is welcome on retreats and how do I know what retreat to attend?

In general, the Campus Ministry Retreat Program is open to the entire Villanova University community. Students of all faith traditions – or none at all – are welcome and encouraged to look into the retreat program.

We offer a variety of retreat experiences so members of the university community are able to choose the type of retreat they are most comfortable attending. Not every style of retreat works for everyone. Some retreats are quiet and include lots of alone time, while others might emphasize building community through sharing with each other and participating in group activities. The pace of retreats may also vary. Some retreats may be packed with activity while others may move at a more leisurely pace.

There are some retreats designed for specific types of students. For example, Freshmen Escape weekends are for first-year undergraduates only. If you are a freshmen, we ask that you attend a Freshmen Escape weekend (held three times throughout the year) before attending any of our other retreats.

For faculty and staff, we offer a one-day Faculty/Staff Retreat each semester.

How can I serve on a retreat team as a student leader?

Student leaders are an essential part of most retreats we do! If you have some experience in attending retreats in high school and/or college, contact Campus Ministry Retreat Director Fr. Chris Drennen, christopher.drennen@villanova.edu. Additionally, you may print out a team leader application form here.